Radiotube base pin locating device



Aug. 1, 1933. H. PALM 1,920,662

RADIOTUBE BASE PIN LOCATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1928 II II 700004 I...

INVENTOR H. PALM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 1, 1933 nnnro'rnnn 'nAsEfPm LQCATING DEVICE at... Palm, Bloomfield, N. J.,

inghouse Lamp Company,

I Pennsylvania Application December 8,

assignor to Westa Corporation ,of

1928. Serial No. 324.749?

3 Claims. (01. 250-27) This invention relates. toa device for automatically applying electrical devices such as radio tubes or the like to holders or sockets. I

When manufacturing radio tubes or similar devices having a pluralityoi contact members it is desirable to test the devices by bringing the, contact members into engagement with contacts of an electrical circuit so'that electrical energy may be passed through the devices. Furthermore it is [essential that all-the devices be ap plied to the sockets in a predetermined manner so that the same contacts of each device are applied to given contactsof asocket.

In 1 copen'ding application Serial No. 313,221 filed'October 18, 1928 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention an apparatus is shown .in which radio tubes are tested for various characteristics and means are shown for automatically applying tubesto sockets. In the said application the tubes to be tested are provided with four contact-members and a side pin. The side pin is always in a fixed relation to the contactmembers and is utilizedin adjusting the tubes for the insertion of the said members into a non-uniform or eccentric arrangement of the socket.

The present invention, is concerneddwith the adjustment of a device without a side pin and having five contact-members such as provided on radio tubescommonly known as A. C. tubes.

In the. construction of an A. C. tube the contact-members are applied to the base in :3. def; inite'and uniform arrangement one of the members being disposed unsymmetrical with respect to the other members. In accordance with the present invention, advantage is taken of this members and one of the members is utilized as a means of controlling the adjustment of the tube for application to a socket.

It is an object of the invention therefore to provide a device for receiving and adjusting a radio tube for application to a socket.

Another object of "the invention is to provide mechanism whereby a radio tube having an unsymmetrical arrangement of contact-members may be engaged by one of said members for adjustment to a given position.

Other. objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawing'in'which,

Fig. l is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a device for receiving and adjusting an electrical device.

Fig. 2 is'a plan view of a plurality of'devices disposed in sockets, constituting a portion of a a Fig. 3 is,

its relationto adjusting meansawhen the conveyor, the latter being partly in cross section.

device for receiving a radio tube and shows the device aboutto be inserted into asocket. Fig. 4 is a view; similarytoFig. 3 'showinga device insertedintoasocket q- I Fig. 5 is an end view of a baseof an electrical device showingthe, arrangement of the contact pinsorm embersa- 1 Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a base an'd is in position for adjustment, and 1 Fig 71s a view similar to that shown in :Fig. 6 but with the base adjusted for insertion into: a socket. 1 i i The, above arrangement of the. I contact-members isemployed in standardpractice on such de-,

vices as the A. C. tube, as for -example,the tube popularly known as the UY- 22' Z. For the purpose of receiving the device 1 6-'the socket lilisproindicated by the numeral 18.:

a longitudinal sectional view of a base vided with, an unsymmetrically spaced ,contact The p esent device as Show in Fig. l is so I constructed as toreceive a tube and includes a u -shapedsupport-member "19 the concave portion 20 thereof serves as'a seat for the cylindrical f a base 15. Intermediate the support 19 and the.

socket 10 is provided what may be termed-an ad,-

f juster-plate 21 having an arcuate shaped edge, ,22 and a notch 23 in partial alignment with the contactf lS of the socket. The said plate is so disposed that I when ,a tube is positioned in the h0lder'19 the sides of three of the contact pins rest on the edge 22 of the plate. If the tube is so disposed that the contactmember 17 of a' tube rests in the notch 23 the tube may bemoved inwardly and the saidnotch aligned with the contact 18- causing'the contact member 17 to engage the contact 18 of the socket and the remaining contact-members 14 will engage with the contacts 13 in the socket.

In accordance with'the present invention, however, tubes may be applied to the holdersfwith the pins in any position with respect to the notch 23 and by rotating thetube about its longitudinal axis the contact members 14 will not enter the notch 23 since as shown. in diagram Fig. 6the spacing of the said contact members 14 is such that three of said members engage the edge of the adjuster plate and when a contact member is adjacent to the. notch, the contact" members on opposite sides of the said positioned contact member will prevent the latter from entering the notch. i

However, when the contact member 17 is moved to position adjacent to the notch 23 it may be against the edge of the adjuster plate 21 the said plate which is normally held in an upper position by a spring 24 moves downwardly to bring the notch 23 in complete alignment with contact '18 and consequently the contactmembers 14 in alignment with contacts 13 of the socket. The tube may then be moved .endwisealong its longitudinal axis toward the socket and the contacts thereof will engage the proper contact members of the tube. 3

For the purposeofremoving a tube from the socket the adjuster plate is arranged to serve as an ejector and is slidable on pins 25 projecting from the holder 19. These pins extend through slots 26 in the said plate so that when a tube is g moved into "a socket the-plate 21 Will be moved against the socket as shown in Fig. 4. When the socketcausing the tube to be ejected. 'Ihe platezlisheldin its'normal position against the holder 19 as shown in Fig.: 3 by springs 28 and "29"(see Fig. 1). Y

The above described 'device' may readily be applied to a machine such asa tube testing machine of character set forth in the above mentionedcopending application. As a practical embodiment of the present device aportion of a conveyor 30 of tube testing machine is shownsee Fig. 2') 'hav'inga plurality-of holders 19 andsockets 10. Tubes may be dropped into the holders at a loading position and the-conveyor may move in the direction of the arrow xa the conveyor moves the bases of the tubes 16 are engaged by a friction member 31which may consist of a supported'pad of rubber or other friction material so .tha't-thetubes arerotated until thecontact 17 engages the notch 23.

\ The friction "member may be resiliently 5 supported so as to press upon the tubes and thus move the samefirmly against the adjuster-plate When thetubes have been adjusted and are ready to-be thrust into the sockets they are moved so as to engage a presser arm 32 pivoted at 33and urgedby a spring 34 toward the moving tubes thereby pressing them into position in the sockets. During a portion of this operation another friction pad 35 "engages the bulb portions of the tubes to I produced at I What isclaimed is: the tube is to be removed the plate 21 may be en- "gaged at its lower end 27 and moved away from hold them firmly in position. The conveyor may then move to subject the tubes to a testing or other operation after which. means in the form of a cam member (not shown) may be arranged to engage the plate at 27 to eject the tubes from the sockets.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the present invention provides a mechanism whereby an electrical device having a plurality-of irreguing the. necessity of an operator with the result.

that" articles of the character described may be a high rate of speed and at reduced cost. f i I v Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein it is to beunderstood that modifications may be made therein Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set'forth in'the appended claims. I

1., A device forreceiving and adjusting a, radio tube having a plurality of contactelements, comprisinga socket, a supportadjacent to said socket, a guide plate havinga notch intermediate said support and said socket, said guide'plate being ar- ,rang'ed'to engage the contact elementsof said tube meansfor rotating said tube to dispose a Contact I element thereof "in thenotch in'said guide plate 'an'd means for moving'said tube towardrs'aid socket. I I I I I 1 2. A device for receiving and adjusting-a radio tube having unsymmetrically spaced contact elem ts comprising socket, means for supporting a tube with the contact elements thereof adjacent to the contacts of said socket and means for receivingone of said contact elements to'serve as a guide. for aligning the said elements for application to saidsocket; i l II 3. 'A' deviceJfor receiving and adjusting aradio ments comprising a'socket, means for supporting to the contacts of said socket and means for retube having'unsymmetricaily spacedcontact ele-.

ceiving one of'said contactelements'to'serve'as a guide for aligning the said element's forapplication to said socket and'means'for changing the relative positions of said'tubeand soc'ketto engage. said contact elemenl socket.

1s withgiven contacts in said GO :P L H 

